HMRC tax adviser rules ‘disproportionate’ and risk ‘serious unintended consequences’ – Conveyancing Association
The Conveyancing Association has criticised the proposed HMRC SDLT changes which propose to require conveyancing firms to register as tax advisers, saying they are “disproportionate” and risk “serious unintended consequences for firms and consumers alike”. In a statement released yesterday, Nicky Heathcote, The Conveyancing Association’s non-executive chair, said the organisation’s position remains clear and called for […]
New property appointments at Anthony Collins and Rowlinsons
Birmingham social purpose law firm Anthony Collins has appointed two legal directors and two senior associates, and in Cheshire, Rowlinsons Solicitors has appointed “widely known” Tim Jordan as a consultant solicitor, adding 40 years of legal experience to its property team. Kelly McDonnell joins the team at Anthony Collins as legal director and head of […]
Post-completion: Mercury signatures and conveyancer-certified electronic signatures
In this week’s look at post-completion, Priscilla Sinder and Maria Hardy from the PCC Education Hub examine the requirements for virtual signatures. If you have any questions related to post-completion you’d like Priscilla and Maria to answer, email press@todaysconveyancer.co.uk. HM Land Registry published its 82nd practice guide covering electronic signatures on 28 March 2022. […]
HMLR confirms action for those impacted by PM Law closure
HM Land Registry (HMLR) has confirmed it is taking action to support the home movers and conveyancers impacted by the sudden closure of PM Law earlier this month by contacting outstanding applications and publishing responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs). The Sheffield-based law firm, along with some 20+ affiliates entities, closed suddenly at the start […]
Treasury losing out on half a billion in SDLT revenues as a result of fall throughs, Rightmove claims
Fall throughs could be costing the property economy as much as £900 million in lost estate agency fees and tax revenue, according to research by property portal Rightmove. The figure does not include lost conveyancing fees, or the wider spend on white goods and soft furnishings associated with moving home. The figure is based on […]
CHAPS times extended as Bank of England works toward 24/7 settlement
The Bank of England has confirmed it will extend the operating hours of the high value payments system CHAPS from its current core operating hours of 6am to 6pm, as efforts to operate settlement on a 24 hours a day, seven days a week basis continue to move forward. Following a 2025 consultation paper on […]
25 years of property due diligence and searches – and what comes next…
The latest Today’s Conveyancer podcast marks a major milestone for property due diligence and environmental search provider Groundsure, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary Podcast host David Opie is joined by CEO Malcolm Smith and Customer Engagement Director Catherine Shiers to reflect on the evolution of the industry, the shifting expectations of consumers, and […]
New note outlines best practice for mandatory and elective climate report content
The Council of Property Search Organisations has published a new compliance note which sets mandatory standards for climate searches for property search organisations who subscribe to the Search Code. CoPSO was founded in 2003 and provides guidance and a ‘self-regulatory framework’ for property due diligence data providers under its Code of Practice for Search Compilers […]
Leasehold in practice
In the penultimate of our regular series from ALEP, lease extension and enfranchisement specialist Shabnam Ali-Khan explains why the majority of ownership structures work – and how to improve those that don’t. More than a year on from the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act (LAFRA), there is a feeling in the leasehold enfranchisement sector of […]
Hoowla announces inaugural user conference focused on AI, user data and the future of conveyancing
Hoowla is delighted to announce its inaugural user conference, an exclusive invitation-only event bringing together Hoowla users from across the UK for a day of insight, discussion and forward-thinking conversation. Hosted in Birmingham on 11th March, the event marks an important milestone for Hoowla as it deepens collaboration with its user community and looks ahead […]
Climate risk compliance note outlines data providers’ duty of care to conveyancers
A trade body for search and property data providers has released a compliance note on climate risk reporting to members, outlining clear definitions of data currently used in climate reports, minimum service standards and expectations for how members will maintain and refine the data “in accordance with the evolving market and stakeholder requirements”. The Conveyancing […]
Profile: Kevin Tunnicliffe, CEO and founder of Sort Group
Kev Tunnicliffe is CEO and founder of Sort Group (SortRefer and Sort Legal), a technology led property services provider focused on improving the home moving journey for brokers, conveyancers and consumers. With more than 35 years in the property industry, Kev launched SortRefer in 2009 to bring better collaboration, data and technology to the conveyancing […]
From post room to Redbrick: automating post allocation without the pain
Date: Tuesday 7 April 2026 Time: 10.00am – 11.00am Registration link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/#register/380552422550410072 About: Imagine allocating and indexing post automatically, without fee earners lifting a finger. In this short webinar, Redbrick Solutions and Post Partner will demonstrate how Optimum Post Room (OPR) transforms one of the most manual, risk-prone processes in a law firm into a […]
Post-completion: Devolution on the death of a registered proprietor
This week, conveyancing post-completion experts Priscilla Sinder and Maria Hardy from the PCC Education Hub simplify the complex requirements of devolution on the death of a registered proprietor, with tips and examples. If you have any questions related to post-completion you’d like Priscilla and Maria to answer, email press@todaysconveyancer.co.uk. This article intends to offer […]
Conveyancers call for wider industry support in the wake of PM Law closure
The personal stories of the impact the PM Law closure has had on home movers has been widely publicised in the national press with families in limbo, and many left paying two mortgages as redemption funds were caught up in the fallout from the stricken firm. A Facebook group set up by those affected now […]
HMRC confirms tax adviser registration rules
HMRC has published its updated guidance on the requirement to register as a tax adviser and the conditions individuals and firms must meet. Every business which interacts with HMRC about someone else’s tax affairs and receives payment for doing so must register for an agent services account from 18 May. ‘Interaction’ is classed as dealing […]
Chain breakdowns adding a 43% premium to the cost of moving
Home movers spent an additional 43% over their allocated budget for home moving essentials including conveyancing, searches and surveys when their home moves were delayed or broke down as a result of chain related issues, according to data from Barclays. A third of UK adults (32%) who bought or sold a home in the last […]
‘Significant digital change just around the corner’, CA annual conference hears
Significant digital change and improvement is happening and will gather momentum throughout 2026, according to a number of speakers at this year’s Conveyancing Association Annual Conference, where the representative body celebrated its 25th anniversary. With the theme of Conveyancing Under the Spotlight, participants heard analysis, viewpoints and input from property industry figures, consumers and digital […]
IRN conveyancing report finds cause for ‘cautious optimism’
The latest UK Residential Conveyancing Market Report from IRN Legal Reports reveals a second consecutive year of growth, and offers “cautious optimism” for 2026, its authors say. The volume of residential transactions in the UK increased for the second year running in 2025 following declines in 2022 and 2023, with volume growth reaching 10%. […]
Profile: David Pett, solicitor and director of MJP Conveyancing
David Pett is a director and solicitor at MJP Conveyancing, specialising in residential property transactions with a particular focus on risk, compliance and process efficiency. After starting his legal career in litigation across family, personal injury, employment and sports law, he moved into conveyancing in 2010, recognising it as an area where technology could meaningfully […]